But(ton) Not for you

Buttons are often thought of as tiny things that keep clothes intact. Once lost, you buy another and your outfit is seamless again. If you take a closer look, it is the small threads that connect and tie everything together. Your fiancé is your button that ties your life together and makes everything harmonious. Incorporating them into your wedding is a whimsical way to show your connection.  Following are a few ways how to use them from beginning to end:

Save the date: Because they are cheap, you could use a different one to enclose each card and, once returned, sew them on to the tie that holds your bouquet together. It’s a fantastic way to make all your guests feel special.

Backdrops: It’s likely that no wedding you’ve been to had button banners. The variety in color, shape and size make it easy to sew and hang them behind the altar for a unique alternative as you take your vows.

Bouquets: Of course, you can have a button bouquet as you walk down the aisle in re flowers. If your mom, grandmother or anyone in your husband to be’s family sewed, using their collection would make it extra special.

Centerpieces: Whether you fill your vases with buttons or have flowers made of them going from smaller to larger in diversified colors to replicate real flowers, there are artisans who can make anything you envision.

Grand Exit: Rather than throwing rice or flower petals as you exit after your vows, you can have small bags of buttons at the entrance of your venue for your guests to toss as you leave as husband and wife.

Aside from showing your personality and doing something different, when you think of what buttons are used for is quite appropriate for your wedding as they sew you together for the rest of your life.

Dropping Petals

It has been a long-standing tradition that flower girls drop petals along the aisle prior to the bride’s entrance. Depending on the venue, real petals may be prohibited and artificial ones are used instead. However, as customs lessen, many different and unique alternatives are becoming popular. Here are just a few:

Individual stems: A basket full of individual stemmed flowers for your flower girl to hand out to either give to your guests seated at the end of each aisle or to those who are most important to you and your fiancé.

Bubbles: Blowing bubbles is a fun and whimsical way to precede your entrance. Aside from not being messy, even adults can’t help but smile at the sight of bubbles and some guests might even try to catch them.

Miniature bouquet: Any little girl given a special job would be honored and feel even more significant if she was given a small bouquet (one suitable for her size) that matches yours.

Customized sign: A sign or pennant with a message introducing you is another clever substitute for petals. Whether it says “Here comes the bride” or “Introducing Mrs. (insert your new last name), not only will your guests be surprised but it will be a keepsake to remember your special day.

Paper hearts: Your wedding is a celebration of the love you have built and will continue to grow. Whether made of shades that match your décor or are crafted out of something important to the two of you, they are a wonderful thing to see as you walk down the aisle.

There are many creative and fun things for flower girls to carry. Not only are they unexpected but each will bring joy to both you and your guests and be an element that sets your wedding apart.

Guest Dressed

Your primary focus is on your dress, what your fiancé is going to wear and the clothing for the wedding party. However, there are things to consider regarding your guests as it is YOUR day and some things aren’t appropriate.

White: Wearing white (or even a shade of it) should not be done which goes without saying. Unless you have a black and white theme or specifically request certain people to wear it, doing so is unacceptable.

Black: No one wants a color associated with funerals and grief. If someone feels more comfortable wearing a darker hue, a shade of blue or dark green is fitting. After all, it’s a celebration and colors should be cheery and upbeat.

Sparkles: Guests might want to add a little accent to their outfit but going overboard is disrespectful. That should be saved for their own wedding day as lighting and photography will catch the glimmer and outshine you even if not intended.

The best way to avoid any mishaps is to include a dress code on your invitations. Even if you say semi-casual, your guests should dress up rather than down. To avoid any confusion, include an option where you can be contacted with questions.

Something Old

As part of the saying goes “Something old….,” is a portion of what is representative of good luck for your upcoming nuptials. Whether traditional or modern in nature, many brides follow the superstition if for nothing more than fun.

Your bouquet is a great place to start. Everyone’s grandma had handkerchiefs (usually handmade) that can be wrapped around your flowers rather than the typical ribbon tie. Perhaps you have your parents’ or grandparents’ wedding rings. Even if only borrowing them for the day, you can secure them in the ribbon. Then you can feel them as you hold your bouquet and they symbolize the lengthy marriage you long to have.

Every bride looks forward to opulent jewels accenting their dress on the special day. However, there are many families in which brides have worn the same jewelry for generations. If that is the case in yours, it would be very meaningful for you keep up the tradition for them (and likely in retrospect, for you).

Most girls gather things that are meaningful in some way as a child. If you’d rather not be so traditional, you can incorporate something from your collection and, depending upon what it is, find a way to integrate it into your ceremony or reception.

A great idea is to include your husband. Maybe there is a pin he could wear on his lapel in place of a boutonniere from someone meaningful to you both.

While your wedding day is all about you and your fiancé, it’s hard to discount how meaningful it is for your family to be included. They are your roots, the epitome of relationships you strive to have and the beginning of two families joining together.

Misdressed

Choosing a wedding dress is often beyond overwhelming. Girls grow up with a dream gown in mind only to find out it is not right for their body type, not at all what they expected and don’t think about cost. There are many things to consider before you even begin shopping and below are just a few:

Your Entourage: While you want to get the opinion of everyone closest to you, it can make you preferences get lost in the mix. You can feel perfect in a gown that your mom doesn’t love, your best friend says doesn’t suit you and you end up feeling defeated and settling for something you didn’t really want.

Fit: Wedding dresses are sized differently than clothes so you shouldn’t get caught up in a number. It’s much better to buy bigger as anything can be taken in than to buy smaller and put added stress on yourself to lose weight when you already have enough to focus on.

Pricing: Expensive dresses with designer names are no better than any other. No one will know how much you paid and you need to stay within your budget. Additionally, if you try on an overpriced gown, chances are you might fall in love with it and then nothing will compare.

Fiancés: Your soon to be husband likely has an idea of what he wants to see you in but often it is so far different than what you imagine. It is guaranteed that he will think you look gorgeous in whatever you choose. Your dress is just that (YOURS) and you will look more beautiful when you feel comfortable in your choice.

Your wedding dress is likely the most expensive gown you will ever wear and will keep forever. Go with what your heart tells you is right regardless of others opinions, or brand names because it is all about you and it is one of the most important aspects of your big day.

Regretfully Speaking

regrets-2

When planning your wedding, excitement takes over and it may seem like you’ve covered every detail due to the sudden obsession that kicks in. Unfortunately, there is remorse that brides have looking back on their big day that should be considered. Here are just a few:

Ceremony: It is easy for your pastor to get carried away or for you to write long vows, but many brides wish their ceremonies were shorter in retrospect as not only did they get bored but worried their guests did too.

Time Spent: Brides often lament getting caught up in making everything perfect, taking photos, feeling overwhelmed at their new life change that they wish they had taken more time to have one on one time with family and close friends. When you are in a rush, it is difficult to focus anything other than what you’ve tried to make perfect but some of the most meaningful moments get left out.

Social Media: It should go without saying that people would turn cell phones off and not take personal photos, but many don’t think to do so. Also, sharing of your wedding pictures on social media is not often appreciated as they are for you do to so when you are ready.

Invitation Obligation: Inviting people out of guilt raises your costs and possibly makes you feel uncomfortable. You should be surrounded by people you love and care about. Inevitably, there will be a few people who will be on the guest list without choice, but you should only invite people that you genuinely want to be with.

Perfection Expectation: Every bride puts in so much time and energy to make everything perfect and many regret that their expectations weren’t met. Nothing is ever going to be perfect. Anticipate snafus and go with the flow. At the end of the day, you will be with the love of your life as a wife forever.

It’s important that you look back on your wedding day without disappointment. It will be as it should be despite what you’ve planned and it is one of the most important days in your life. That alone makes it perfect.

Engagement Advice

  1. Enjoy the moment before spilling the beans. There will be plenty of time for everyone to congratulate you, wish you well etc. but the biggest moment in your life is between you and your fiancé. Spend some time just cherishing the proposal before announcing it to everyone.
  2. Don’t get lost in your wedding day. So much time, energy and planning has gone into it that it’s easy to get caught up with you guests. You don’t want to look back and realize that you didn’t have any special moments with your new husband.
  3. Be yourself. You would be so upset if upon reflection, you realized you didn’t have what you wanted because you wanted to please your guests.  It’s YOUR day and should be exactly how you want it to be. Those who love you will be over the moon with anything you choose.
  4. Remember that it’s not all about you. Your fiancé is just as important and what he wants should be considered. Even if it doesn’t fit into your vision and some grooms don’t have any interest, if he wants something included, you should make a point to do so.
  5. Communication is very important especially before you get married. It is the foundation of every relationship and you need to be open with one another about everything to ensure your marriage will last. If you don’t start off on a solid foundation, your chances are greatly reduced.

Marriage is so important and it is easy to get caught up in the moment. However, there are things that need to be established and considered prior to walking down the aisle (and during your ceremony) in order to increase the chances of lifelong happiness.

You will get advice from all angles and some will be fitting and some won’t work for you but there are fundamentals that set you up for a strong, long lasting marriage.

The ABCs of Registries

Who doesn’t love getting gifts especially when you choose them yourself? Wedding registries might be the only time you get to do so but some things that should be considered when making them are for your guests.

Complete your registry at least six months before your wedding so everyone has time to choose what to get you for not only your big day but engagement parties, showers etc. Also, being such a special gift, invitees don’t want to rush at the last-minute or get you something other than what they’d like because of a time crunch.

Register for enough gifts to give your guests options but don’t go overboard and choose things on a whim you’d never use. The number of items needs to be at least equivalent to your guest count. An easy way to achieve that is by breaking down sets (such as cookware) into individual pieces.

Items of all price ranges should be included even if your guests tend to be generous. You don’t want anyone to feel uncomfortable if gifts are out of their budget. Many smaller ticket items can be creatively combined in fun ways to look more lavish.

Personal items should remain just that and not be included. As much as you may want a new wardrobe for your honeymoon, your registry is not an appropriate place to ask for it. Request things you and your fiancé can share now and in the future. However, there’s no harm in asking for a nice camera to capture the adventures you will share or items to entertain as your lifestyle will be changing.

Thank each person within two weeks of receiving a gift. Although you will be very busy with planning (and life in general), doing so will keep you from getting overwhelmed down the line and ensure that no one falls through the cracks.

Your registry isn’t a secret but never include it on your invitation. Instead, it should be shared by your family, bridal party or wedding website (if you have one). You will appreciate the thought and consideration put into each item you choose as they will last for years to come and remind you of this special time in your life.

He Said YES!

The time comes when friends and family start asking when you’re getting married and you get antsy for your fiancé to propose. Maybe you find yourself dropping subtle hints or even questioning whether the day will arrive at all. While we all like fun games, the waiting game isn’t one anyone enjoys. Instead, as the saying goes, “Take destiny into your own hands.”

Women are more empowered and independent than ever and there’s nothing wrong with you popping the question. Because it doesn’t happen every day, doesn’t make it unacceptable. In fact, there are advantages to you doing so.

If you are certain about your partner’s feelings and commitment, proposing will calm your nerves and allow you to start planning the next phase of your relationship. Also, the seeds of doubt inadvertently planted by others’ innocent questions will end.

The best part of a proposal is the thought and planning behind it and, of course the complete surprise. How great would it be to give the same wonderful experience to the person you love the most? While it would be taking that away from you, his response will overshadow anything you may worry about missing out on.

When you take charge, a bonus is that you will most likely have some input (if not complete control) over your engagement ring! Unfortunately, some fiancés choose rings their brides-to-be don’t like which leads to awkward situations. That’s yet something else you won’t have to worry about.

Women often start marriage conversations with their partners so proposing isn’t completely out in left field. There are no rules when it comes to relationships and what a fun twist to add to your love story.

Petaling Flowers

Flowers bring vibrancy and beauty to your wedding and often take up a sizable portion of your budget. Being immersed in the colors and smells typically only experienced by florists makes it is easy to get carried away. Below are a few things to consider regarding such an important decision:

An overabundance can become obtrusive and distracting. If you are holding too many flowers, the dress you spent countless hours selecting will be hidden behind your bouquet. Your guests want to see one another during the reception while seated at their tables too. Large arrangements (beautiful as they may be) can easily become disruptive if they interfere with conversations.

Most florists won’t tell you that several blossoms have less expensive ones that are so similar, they could be substituted for the pricier ones without anyone noticing. Doing a little research can quickly keep you from paying more than necessary. Also, countless types of leaves can be transformed to add bulk and reduce costs while accentuating the blooms.

If you are looking to match something, take a swatch or sample of some sort. Not only do people often view colors differently but a lot of flowers come in various shades of assorted hues. Therefore, if you simply say pink, you may end up with magenta when you wanted a light blush.

Take time to “smell the roses” so to speak as certain blossoms have very strong aromas. While that may enhance the ambiance, especially in a smaller venue, it can become overpowering and even cause issues for sensitive guests or those with allergies.

A little bit of learning, thought and discretion will make a significant difference in your budget, the comfort of your guests and ensure you get exactly what you have are looking for.